Russell Watson delighted to be back singing

In addition to being one of the finest classical singers in the world, Russell Watson has no small talent for understatement. Just days away from the start of a UK tour, he’s keen to explain why he’s been so busy building up his vocal strength lately.

“You know,” he says, “I’ve been out of sorts really for two or three years.” And then he pauses and laughs. “Well, actually, I’ve been busy dying!”

It sounds like drama worthy of an operatic tragedy for Russell (you can see his website here), but it’s very much real life.

In the space of two years, Salford-born Russell has suffered not one, but two brain tumours. The first, pressing against his optic nerve, was successfully removed in September 2006, but a second emergency operation was needed the following autumn when it returned and began bleeding into his brain.

“It has been a tough old time,” he smiles. “But I feel that I’ve finally come through that dark period and I’m ready to rock again.

“Also, at the beginning of this year, I went for my follow-up scans and I was given really positive news that the radiotherapy is having a real effect on what’s left of the tumour and it’s shrinking away.

“That kind of news has given me the lift I needed to start thinking, ‘Right I can go back to the really big classical stuff that made me so famous’.”

In health terms, the 42-year-old has made a remarkable recovery from what he describes as “the verge of death.” But, he explains, the necessary rehabilitation has left him needing to work on that famous tenor voice.

“The first thing I had to do was get back in the studio and get that vocal stamina back,” he says. “The dedication and commitment it takes to sing one single piece of classical music, one single aria, is massive and I don’t think people always recognise that. They’re basically like vocal marathons so you’ve got to be on your game with this stuff or it’s not going to happen.”

With dates planned up and down the country, including Liverpool’s Phil at the end of this month, Russell says he is now very much on his game again.

It takes a powerful daily cocktail of medication to keep him that way, but he has absolutely no complaints about that.

“I have to take drugs and have ongoing treatment for the rest of my life,” he shrugs, “but it’s all replacement hormones because my pituitary gland was damaged. But, you know what, it’s a daily routine now. I’ve got used to injecting myself every day and taking tablets five times a day, it’s just like brushing my teeth or washing my hair. I need to do it.”

Considering his ordeal, there’s no hint of self-pity in Russell.

“I suppose I feel unfortunate that it happened but very fortunate that I got through it,” he says calmly. “In the first instance, I was very unfortunate that I was diagnosed, but I just feel so lucky particularly with the circumstances surrounding the second tumour. I was rushed into hospital and it was all looking rather bleak. I had four haemorrhages, everything had expanded in my head and my vision was gone, it was very, very scary.

“When you’ve been through that kind of darkness, those kind of things in life, there’s no question it gives you a real appreciation.

“There are days when I might feel a bit crap and sorry for myself because silly little things aren’t quite going my way, and then I think to myself, come on Nobby, pick yourself up. Stop whimpering over a couple of bits that aren’t quite going right, get over it.

“I just appreciate life and each day more now. I have a greater appreciation of the people around me, my friends and family; not that there wasn’t one before but it’s intensified now.”

His illness hasn’t altered his attitude towards the future, he stresses. He has always been a person to think ahead, personally and professionally, and that hasn’t changed.

Next year, he says, will be his 10th as a recording artist; something he is rightly proud of.

As a precursor to that celebration, the upcoming tour will see him return to true classical, hence the rigorous vocal gymnastics.

Although, he jokes, full rehearsals this week may not be an entirely enjoyable experience.

“I’m a Man United fan, and I’m using the Sense of Sound choir for my tour plus my sound engineer is a big Liverpool fan so I reckon I’m in for loads of stick,” laughs Russell. “That’s why I’m not looking forward to rehearsals because I’m going to have 20 Scousers waiting for me, all ready to sing You’ll Never Walk Alone.

“I think there’s a good chance I’m going to get 4-1 rammed right down my throat!”

Russell Watson is at the Liverpool Phil on Monday March 30

Source: Liverpool Echo